Stories from United States

AI startup Anthropic has achieved a $1 trillion valuation on secondary markets, marking a massive milestone for the artificial intelligence sector. This development occurs alongside reports of growth in major cloud computing sectors. Anthropic is considering a new funding round that would value the AI developer at more than $900 billion. The news comes as the AI trade continues to drive U.S. equity index futures. Bloomberg sources are monitoring the potential valuation increase. AI startup Anthropic is reportedly seeking new anchor investors for its cap table. No specific reason for the capital raise was provided by the company. AI developer Anthropic is reportedly in discussions to raise a new 50 billion USD funding round. The company has received multiple pre-emptive offers at a valuation of 900 billion USD.

A significant component of NASA's upcoming Artemis mission rocket is currently being transported to the Kennedy Space Center. The mission aims to return humans to the Moon's surface. This follows the Artemis II launch which carried four astronauts past the Moon. The component has been transferred to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to receive RS25 engines before vertical integration. NASA stated the core stage will power the Artemis 3 mission to test systems and docking capabilities. The rocket's main body is intended to facilitate the next chapter of lunar exploration. This event occurs almost one month after humanity's first lunar trip in more than 50 years. The capsule was trucked from San Diego to Florida for further inspection. Engineers will now conduct a detailed examination of the spacecraft.

A Lindsey Graham amendment to the US budget bill passed unanimously in the Senate. The amendment establishes a dedicated reserve fund specifically for criminal deportations. This move signals a legislative push to streamline and finance removal operations. The US Senate has unanimously voted for a proposal to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The Secret Service is currently being paid, despite the lack of a broader agreement for DHS. It remains unclear if there are signs of a possible agreement that would legally reinstate DHS funding.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen challenged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the Trump administration's recent remarks targeting Canada. The questioning focused on the potential negative impacts these statements could have on tourism and cross-border business relations. This tension highlights growing diplomatic friction between the US and its northern neighbor. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden are questioning Commerce Secretary Lutnick regarding a tether loan to a children's trust.

The Trump administration is reportedly planning to use taxpayer funds to provide a bailout for Spirit Airlines. This move aims to ensure at least one major airline maintains consistent travel service to and from specific regions. The decision has sparked debate regarding the use of public funds for private corporate stability. President Trump recently suggested he is open to bailing out Spirit Airlines. The airline is currently facing economic difficulties that have brought it close to collapse. The report notes a decline for the carrier compared to its previous performance.

New York City has launched a new Office of Curb Management to modernize street policies and centralize planning for its 6,300 miles of streets. The city publishes an annual ranking of districts with the highest number of complaints. Officials noted that many city workers, including police, firefighters, and construction workers, suffer from hearing damage due to constant exposure to city noise. The initiative follows the implementation of a noise-monitoring app. Approximately 605,000 noise complaints were recorded in the past year. The data includes specific districts where complaints are most frequent. The service is provided by the city's environmental protection agency. Residents can access decibel levels and locations via the new Lab New York News platform. The data does not include specific audio recordings due to privacy concerns, providing only location and decibel measurements.

House Republicans report that Representative Tom Kean Jr. has been absent from congressional duties for more than a month. The lawmaker has maintained total radio silence during this period, leaving colleagues and party leadership without information regarding his whereabouts. This absence comes amid ongoing internal discussions regarding congressional attendance and accountability. New Jersey Republican Congressman Tom Cain Jr. He plans to return to work and the campaign trail soon, according to the report. announced via social media that he will return to the House of Representatives soon. Cain, representing New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, has missed nearly two months of votes since March 5th. He has not disclosed the specific medical issue preventing his attendance but stated doctors expect a complete recovery.

Apple has released a fix for a security vulnerability that allowed law enforcement to recover deleted messages from iPhones. The bug was notably utilized by police during investigations involving members of the Antifa movement. This patch aims to restore user privacy regarding deleted communications. A new software patch from Apple prevents iPhones from saving copies of deleted messages from third-party apps like Signal. The update also purges previously saved and related notifications to enhance privacy. This flaw enabled forensic extraction of messages by agencies such as the FBI.

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the Chicago, Illinois area on the evening of April 22. Residents are advised to monitor local conditions as the warning remains in effect. This follows recent weather patterns in the Midwest region. The warning is effective from April 26 at 8:17 PM CDT until April 30 at 7:00 PM CDT. The Chicago area is experiencing heavy rainfall, with predictions of an additional half-inch to an inch of rain. Areas are already saturated. Temperatures will reach the mid to upper 60s today. Water levels remain high near the Algonquin Dam, with some roads still closed in Port Barrington and Ross. Flood warnings are in effect along the Fox River and up through the Chana Lakes.

The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 in Game 3 to secure a commanding 3-0 series lead. The Penguins now face elimination with the next game scheduled for Saturday. This victory puts Philadelphia on the verge of advancing in the NHL playoffs. The win extends the current series, though the Flyers currently hold the advantage. The result forces a fifth game in the series. Philadelphia goaltender Dan Vladders stopped all 42 shots to secure the win. The defeat follows a game attended by over 8,200 fans. Sidney Crosby was included in the lineup and played on the first shift.